Novel new fire station alerting strobe speaker answers the challenges posed by open areas with high ambient noise levels. PHOENIX—January 24, 2019— Fire stations are often large, open and very noisy environments that challenge the effective, timely alerting of personnel in the event of an emergency. At times when mere seconds can make a truly lifesaving […]

Novel new fire station alerting strobe speaker answers the challenges posed by open areas with high ambient noise levels.

PHOENIX—January 24, 2019— Fire stations are often large, open and very noisy environments that challenge the effective, timely alerting of personnel in the event of an emergency. At times when mere seconds can make a truly lifesaving difference, the new fire station alerting peripheral—the OmniAlert Strobe Speaker—from US Digital Designs (USDD) is specifically designed to answer those challenges, quickly and effectively.

Launching this month, the OmniAlert Strobe Speaker is the next-generation peripheral designed and manufactured by USDD, the Tempe, Arizona-based public safety engineering firm. It’s designed to enhance USDD’s “Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System,” which, since its launch in 2005, has helped protect nearly 25 million people in more than 385 cities and towns around the globe.

Magnoni continues: “This is yet another alerting peripheral that was designed for fire stations based on direct feedback from our customers. There’s nothing on the market like it.”

The new visual and audible speaker is particularly effective in large, open areas with high ambient noise, as well as in acoustically challenging environments. Popular locations for installation include apparatus bays, shops, gyms, and other locations where it’s often difficult to hear alerts clearly.

Even when the ambient noise levels make audible alerts difficult to understand, the strobe speaker’s three high-intensity LED strobe lights flash rotating bursts of light to visually alert personnel.

The OmniAlert Strobe Speaker is lightweight and, at just 15 inches in diameter, is fully compact. Each speaker includes a cable hanging kit and small weather screen filter.

This peripheral is used conjunction with the Phoenix G2 Message Remote 2 for power, signal and control.

See why this strobe speaker is a great addition for current Phoenix G2 customers as well as fire station administration who are evaluating their near-term fire station technology upgrades. For more information, visit stationalerting.com or call +1-602-687-1730.

About US Digital Designs

US Digital Designs is a product engineering and consulting company specializing in designing, developing and installing high-quality and high-reliability mission-critical systems related to fire station alerting, robotics and more. Based in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area, the company prides itself on its reputation for developing the outstanding Phoenix G2 Station Alerting System, which plays a major role in helping save lives and reducing property losses in emergency situations.

Every one of the 24 Omaha fire stations is now operating with state of the art technology for emergency alarms.

“We’re always at the mercy of technology and technology is always moving forward. That’s why we designed the system to move with the flow,” said Fire Chief Dan Olsen.

Reporter: The equipment the city replaced was so old and outdated, companies stopped making spare parts. It was so bad, alarms at two stations broke altogether. My KETV investigation revealed some firefighters set up pop cans on a printer, activated when emergency calls came in. They listened for them to fall so they wouldn’t miss a call.

“From where we were six months or a year ago with the status and quality as it was, with the system reaching the end of its life, compared to where we are with this 21st century system, it’s just night and day,” Fire Union President Steve LeClair said.

Reporter: The goal is to get firefighters and medics out the doors in :60 seconds or less. The new fire alert system has a clock showing their progress, and it takes their health and safety into consideration. Every call has a computer-automated voice, known as “Samantha,” with heart-saver tones.

“Those are all designed to be built to lessen the impact of those firefighters and their stress levels,” Olsen said.

“This is going to have a dramatic impact on the health on those firefighters as they’re responding,” explained LeClair.

Reporter: This new alert system was the first project completed and paid for with that $45-million public safety bond passed by voters 2 years ago. The bond will also pay to upgrade and relocate the Douglas County 911 Center, as well as make improvements to the Douglas County jail.

Bandur: “The Omaha Fire Department calls it the latest and greatest in technology. The $2.5 million upgrade is almost complete. From now on, the only pop cans you’ll find in fire stations will be left in the fridge.”

Bandur: “This state-of-the-alert Fire Station Alerting system is now live in 15 of Omaha’s 24 fire stations.”

Fitzpatrick: “More tools help them get out the door faster to help people.”

Bandur:“Sixty seconds or less is the goal. Now there’s a clock on display that starts when the call comes in.”

Fitzpatrick: “With the new system, we feel that will be attainable.”

Bandur:“The City is replacing outdated, aging equipment that was often broken, and so bad, firefighters at Stations 52 and 23 resorted to the sound of pop cans falling off a printer, activated when emergency calls come in. Are the pop can alarms gone for good now?”

Fitzpatrick: “There was no need for pop cans to begin with. It’s much better. They’ll be able to get the pre-alerts much faster than a computer printer.”

Bandur: “When we first showed the Fire Union President the video of the pop can alarms last winter, he was critical of the City not getting the new alarm system in fast enough.

Tonight, Steve LeClair tells me he commends the Mayor and the Fire Department, saying the new system will reduce response times. Three more stations will get the new equipment this week, and every Omaha fire station is expected to have it by September.”

Our team here at US Digital Designs would like to thank our reseller and installation partner, Racom Corporation.

In this video, filmed at FDIC 2018, learn what types of fire stations rely on US Digital Design’s fire station alerting system and how their concerns are alleviated via 24/7 secure, automated dispatching. Also learn how public safety officials have yet another means of station alerting with the integration of the Phoenix G2 FSA Mobile […]

In this video, filmed at FDIC 2018, learn what types of fire stations rely on US Digital Design’s fire station alerting system and how their concerns are alleviated via 24/7 secure, automated dispatching.

Also learn how public safety officials have yet another means of station alerting with the integration of the Phoenix G2 FSA Mobile App and FirstNet.

What are the benefits of fire station alerting? USDD’s General Manager Dominic Magnoni explains this and more to Pennwell’s Chris McClune.

Benefits of Fire Station Alerting

]]>https://stationalerting.com/benefits-of-fire-station-alerting/feed/0What is AT&T’s FirstNet and how does it tie in with station alerting?https://stationalerting.com/att-firstnet-station-alerting/
https://stationalerting.com/att-firstnet-station-alerting/#respondThu, 12 Apr 2018 17:35:08 +0000https://stationalerting.com/?p=8177

As we all now know, communications during the 9/11 terrorist attack became a vital, absolutely critical component of our reaction and response to this unprecedented national tragedy. And when the first responders experienced communications challenges that day, and even later on in the days that followed, the idea for a single public safety network was […]

As we all now know, communications during the 9/11 terrorist attack became a vital, absolutely critical component of our reaction and response to this unprecedented national tragedy.

And when the first responders experienced communications challenges that day, and even later on in the days that followed, the idea for a single public safety network was born.

Now, nearly 18 years later, we’ve been introduced to FirstNet, built by AT&T.

About AT&T’s “FirstNet” Network

FirstNet is the nation’s first broadband network tailored specifically to meet the needs of local and national public safety officials.

Simply put, it will help prioritize public safety messages, enabling first responders summoned in any type of event to save lives and protect property in the communities they serve.

Here at US Digital Designs, we’re ensuring that we’re ready for this extraordinary new system.

So, to learn more about FirstNet and its impact on fire station alerting, we sat down and did a “Q & Andy” with our product manager, Andy MacFarlane, who also happens to be an expert in public safety networking and telecommunications.

Q: Why is FirstNet necessary?

Andy: In the event of a natural disaster—such as an earthquake, hurricane, fire, flooding, etc.—we know that the public network is likely to be overwhelmed.

So, dispatch alerts and other critical messages sent through the new FirstNet network will bypass public network traffic and give public safety organizations “first” priority.

And then, at special events such as the Super Bowl, fire, medical and police responders will be given network priority over people using their mobile phones in and around the stadium.

FirstNet devices and apps–like USDD’s FSA Mobile App–can serve as either a primary or backup way to communicate station alerting messages to first responders.

Q: What’s AT&T’s role in the development of this new system?

Andy: AT&T won its bid with the U.S. government to implement FirstNet. One of the many things they’re doing is to provide an “Application Ecosystem,” which consists of a mobile device management system.

This will help government entities, such as fire agencies, manage their devices and applications. I think this is very good news for some agencies that do not yet have such a system in place.

Additionally, AT&T offers a variety of FirstNet-enabled devices and accessories, ranging from purpose-built rugged units to smart devices and tablets.

One of the advantages of the FirstNet system is that it enables public safety customers to get the priority coverage and interoperability they need without sacrificing choice in the devices they require to get the job done.

Plus, FirstNet is offering Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) capabilities to support volunteers and other personnel who use their personal devices for public safety work, as long as they meet the applicable requirements.

Q: What does it mean for automated fire station alerting?

Andy: All of US Digital Designs’ Phoenix G2 station alerting customers have a network connection for their station alerting.

A growing number of our clients—including Phoenix and Mesa in Arizona and Broward County in Florida—have a data radio system as a means of secondary alerting.

Agencies will be able to use wireless networking over the FirstNet system, to achieve reliable and prioritized alerting as either a primary or secondary alerting method.

Happy NPSTW!

Held every year during the second week of April, NPSTW is a time to recognize telecommunications personnel in the public safety community for their service and commitment to the profession.

On behalf of the USDD team, we’d like to extend our thanks and appreciation to our station alerting clients — as well as all of those who work in public safety: dispatchers, telecommunicators, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, etc.

The Omaha Fire Department Fire Station just announced that 52 and 23 are among the first in the city to install a new dispatch alerting system, manufactured by US Digital Designs. “The system will bring the latest technology for our first responders,” according to Malorie Maddox, anchor for WOWTV Channel 6. Aging Alerting System […]

“Now you have technology that is specific to your bedroom so for example if you are in a bedroom designed for Engine 52, only those designated for Engine 52 are going to hear that tone,” he said.

Raycom Representative Doug Busch says that’s not the system’s only feature that makes it more peaceful.

“The other thing it does it turns lights on and speakers in the firefighters sleeping rooms. Those lights come on gradually so that tone will be sounded which gradually ramps up,” said Busch. “It’s got a pretty simple job to do and it does it very well.”

All the Omaha fire stations will soon have the system in place. The work takes a week to 10 days to complete per fire station. All the station should be online in the next 6 months.

USDD’s station alerting customer, the Vadnais Heights Fire Department, is to be congratulated for their history-making ISO rating from the Insurance Services Office. The ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides a third-party, objective standard to help fire departments plan and budget for facilities, equipment, and training. At the February […]

USDD’s station alerting customer, the Vadnais Heights Fire Department, is to be congratulated for their history-making ISO rating from the Insurance Services Office.

The ISO helps the communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides a third-party, objective standard to help fire departments plan and budget for facilities, equipment, and training.

At the February 20 City Council meeting in Vadnais Heights , Fire Chief Edward Leier reported his department received a No. 2 rating. Leier said the department received the notable rating for its fire certificate of occupancy program, staffing structure, response times and training model.

The department’s response time is two minutes on average when stations are staffed, and six minutes on average when not staffed.

By this time next year, the department will implement a 24/7 staffing model, allowing firefighters to get to the scene of an emergency more quickly. Leier plans to add shifts until the fire department is staffed 24/7 in Jan. 2019.

Based in Ramsey County, Minnesota, Vadnais Heights is one of seven stations in the state to receive a top safety ISO rating.

ISO ratings are given every five years. In 2013, there were no No. 2 ratings given in Minnesota. Vadnais Heights was among 29 departments to receive the highest rating — No. 3 — that year. No fire department in Minnesota has ever received a No. 1 rating.

What is an ISO Rating?

ISO collects information on municipal fire-protection efforts in communities throughout the United States. In each of those communities, ISO analyzes the relevant data using our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS).

The ISO then assigns a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program doesn’t meet ISO’s minimum criteria.

And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services.

ISO has extensive information on more than 44,000 fire-response jurisdictions.

At US Digital Designs, we’re often asked how automated dispatching works. And, thanks to one of our longtime station alerting customers, you can get a quick answer in this video produced by the City of Scottsdale Fire Department. In it, you can watch Scottsdale’s first responders in action — starting with a 911 call and […]

At US Digital Designs, we’re often asked how automated dispatching works.

And, thanks to one of our longtime station alerting customers, you can get a quick answer in this video produced by the City of Scottsdale Fire Department.

In it, you can watch Scottsdale’s first responders in action — starting with a 911 call and leading up to the saving of victims (even four-legged ones!)

Here’s a brief overview of how automated dispatching works:

A 911 call is dispatched from the Phoenix Regional Dispatch Center, and is automatically sent to one or more units within milliseconds.

Throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, fire departments have an “automatic aid agreement” so that the closest units are sent to the call.

Depending on the 911 caller’s need, a combination of units are dispatched.

Those automated station alerts appear in a variety of areas within each station–using both audio and visual means. As you’ll see at :15 in the video, the G2 Message Signs can be configured to display dispatch information, turnout timer or unit status (with a capable CAD system). Message Signs are usually mounted above doorways, in hallways, kitchens, offices and apparatus bays (as shown below).

On average, it takes the City of Scottsdale Fire Department about 5.5 minutes from the time a unit is dispatched until the apparatus arrives on the scene.

In an effort to shave off vital seconds when responding to emergencies, two Illinois-based fire agencies — Barrington Fire Department and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department — will install the Phoenix G2 alert system this Spring. Both agencies are dispatched by Lake County ETSB, which also serves Antioch, Countryside/Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Libertyville, Mundelein, […]

In an effort to shave off vital seconds when responding to emergencies, two Illinois-based fire agencies — Barrington Fire Department and Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department — will install the Phoenix G2 alert system this Spring.

Both agencies are dispatched by Lake County ETSB, which also serves Antioch, Countryside/Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Lake Villa, Libertyville, Mundelein, Roundlake and Wauconda.

US Digital Designs would like to thank our partners Digicom, Inc, who are assisting our customers with the installation of their fire station alerting systems.

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“We say seconds equal muscle, meaning the sooner we start CPR on someone or rescue them from a vehicle or recognize signs of a stroke, the better chance of saving lives,” said Bruce Peterson, assistant fire chief for the Barrington Fire Department.

Later this spring, both the Barrington and Lake Zurich fire departments will start using the Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System, which can save firefighters up to 60 seconds when they are traveling to emergencies, Peterson said.

The new system assists emergency dispatchers, who will be able to type pertinent information during 911 calls straight into a computer-aided system, he said.

The computer system then automatically alerts the appropriate fire stations to incidents, saving time since dispatchers will no longer have to stop their conversations with 911 callers to dispatch firefighters and first responders, officials in both Barrington and Lake Zurich said.

The new system also has lights and speakers that go off in every fire station with the equipment, alerting firefighters while scrolling message boards provide them with addresses to different incidents and tells them how much time has elapsed since an incident alert was made, Peterson said.

Representatives with US Digital Designs, a company in Arizona that makes the Phoenix G2 system, said the system is installed at 2,500 locations in North America and Australia.

Barrington officials recently approved the new emergency response system for $54,300, while Lake Zurich officials approved $56,500 for the new equipment, officials said.

John Kelly, division chief for the Lake Zurich Fire Department, said the new system should cut down needed seconds for firefighters.

“A fire can double in two minutes, and if someone is not breathing or pulseless, 30 seconds could be critical,” Kelly said.

Click to see the original article published on Feb. 20, 2018, by Pioneer Press/Chicago Tribune writer, Todd Shields.

US Digital Designs recently played a part in the fourth consecutive Super Bowl® game. To be more specific, our Phoenix G2 fire station alerting system played a pivotal, off-field role.

Meaning, the Phoenix G2 was the behind-the-scenes automated dispatching alerting service for many of the public safety professionals (firefighters and first responders, etc.) responsible for serving the residents and fans of Super Bowl LII.

At US Digital Designs, we’re very proud to have helped our customers in all of these communities as they had the challenging task of protecting the lives and property around the above-mentioned stadiums.

And, lastly, we salute the city of Minneapolis, the team at U.S. Bank Stadium, TriTech Systems (one of our many CAD partners) as well as the Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the Super Bowl LII.

The term SUPER BOWL is a registered trademark owned by the National Football League.